Vending machine



Dec. 30, "1930. c. LEA

VENDING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 30, 1930, A c, LEA1,787,204

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7//Ill/llll/Illll/Illlllllll (Jha:mes Lea Patented Dec. 39, 1930 sra-EsFFICE CHARLES LEA, OF BOSTON, MASSACHSETTS,

essrenoa ro THE AUTOMATIC CHANDIZER INC., F BOSTON, MASSACHSETTS, ACORPORATION OF DELAWABE vnnnrns MACHNE Application filed August 2, 1927.Serial No. 210,095.

, Fig. 2 shows a detailof the machine according to Fig. 1 on an enlargedscale with the parts in a difierent position;

Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the parts shown by Fig. 2;

F ig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1;

*Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on Fig..4;' A

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 with the parts moved to adifferent position;

Fig. 8 1s a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6; A

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 4:; and

Fig. Fig. 9. r

Referring to the drawing-s the submitted embodiment of the inventioncomprises a cabinet having the top 1, back wall 3, bottom 5, and sidewalls 7 constructed of suitable material, as for example wood, the upperportion of the front wall preierably being a glass plate 9 rendering thecontents of the cabinet visible, the lower portion 11 of the front wallpreferably being of. metal.

Herein the back wall of the cabinet car the line (i6 of is a section onthe line 10.10 of ries themember 13, preferably of metal, pro

vided with end flanges .15 which carry the inturned portions 17. At thelower end of the member 13 are provided lips 19 which in conjunctionWith a bar 21 are adapted to support a stack of articles A to be vended.Herein the articles are shown resting upon platos 23 interleaved betweenthe articles,

the lowermost plate resting at opposite ends respectively upon the bar21 and lips 19. As shown the plates 23 are notched at the sides thereofadjacent one end as indicated at 25 (Fig. 5), said not-chos engaging theinturned portions 17 of the member 13 so as to be guided therby. Asshown suitable guide bars 27 may be provided for guiding the articleswhich rest loosely upon the plates. For disengaging the plates 23 fromthe bar 21 and lips 19 herein is provided a lever pivoted at 28 andhaving the flattened portion 29 fitting a slot 3lin the back wall of thecabinet, said portion 29 of the lever being formed integrally with andprojecting laterally from a rod.like portion 33 of the lever. As shownthe portion 33 of the lever has cylindrical head 35 adapted to enter thehole 37 in the lowermost of the stack of plates 23..

Swiriging the lever counterclockwise about its pvot 28 will push thelowermost plate 23 of the stackto the left, as viewed-in Fig. 1. whichwill disengage said plate from the lips 19 and permit it to fall asindicated by the plate in its dotted line positions in Fig. l, the plateduring falling being in engagement with the rod like portion 33 of thelever and with the flattened spring member 38 which afiords acontinuation of said lever so as to be guidedthereby and to be stackedat the bottom of the receptacle 39. As shown the flattened member 38 maybe in the form of a spring removably engaged in the slot 39 at the endof the rod like portion 33 of the.lever for disengaging the plates.

When a plate 23 is released from the bottom of the stack as abovedescribed it falls through a hole 40in a plate 41 positioned below thestack and inclined downward toward the front of the cabinet, this holebeing of about the dimensions of the plate 23 so that the article whichis of greater dimension than the hole will be oaught' by the plate4:1and slid through the opening 42 in the front wall of the cabinet.

For aetuating the lever for disengaging the platos 23 from the bottom ofthe stack herein is shown a, plunger 45 which, through looking mechamsms tuated in the oasing 47 and a connect-ing link 49, isadapted to movethe lower end of the lever to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, againstthe tension of a spring 5l acting to return the parts to the positionshown in Fig. l when the hand of the operator is moved t'r om theplunger 45.

Herein above the 'upperrnost plate 23 and resting thereon is a V-shapedbar 53, the apex of which is adapted to engage with the head ot theactuatin lever (as shown by Figs. 2 and 3) when the uppermos plate ofFig. I is finallydisenga ed. This will prevent return of the lever rromthe position of Fig. 2

to the position of Fig. 1, and prevent further actuation of the deviceafterthe lzistarticle is discharged fronrthe cabinet.

Herein slidably inounted in the casing 47 is a pair of bars 55 held inspaced relation by means of a block 57 fixedly secured to said bars.while connected to said bars are the operating plunger and link 49hereinbefore reterred to. Below the bars at one end of the casing 47 isa slidably mounted plate 59 provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots 61 (Figs. 4 and 10), while each bar 55 carries a pin 63projecting into said slots, thus connecting the plate 59 to said barsfor limited relative movement. Carriod by the casing is a pawl or detent65 having the depending portions 67 pivoted at 69 to a casing, thespring 71 urging the pawl against the lower surface of the bars 55 intothe path ofthe right hand end of the plate 59, as viewed in Fig. 6. V

As shown the bars 55 at the inner sides thereof are provided with facingslots and 75, the former of which, when the parts are in the positionshown by Fig. 6, is in registry with a slot 77 leading to a coinreceiving opening 79 formen in the exterior p0rtion of the casing, theopening 79' being preferably cylindrical and of about the exact diameterof coin C of predetermined size, as for example, a dime. The block 57 asshown is provided with a spring pressed pawl in the form of a ball 81adapted to engage with openings or recesses 83 and 85 formed in theplate 59, the purpose o which is to cause the plate to move with thebars. With the parts in the position shown by 6, assuming the coin C hasbeen inserted and the plunger ispressed inward to move the parts to theright, the upper edge of the coin C will contact with the stationarv cam87,- and the right end of the plate 59 will contact with the left handend of the pawl 65. Continued move ment of the plnnger to the right willcause the plate 59 to remain stationary and will transfer the coin fromsaid plate to the detent 65, which coin, due to its upper portioncontact; ing with the cam 87, will depress the detent and cause it todisengage from the plate,

which will permit the plunger to move.in

ward to the full length of its travel, and cause the lever 33 todisengage one of the articles to be vended. The position of the parts inwhich the pawl 65 disngages the plate 59 is clearly illustrated in F ig.7.

After the plunger 55 has made its full inward stroke, and the hand ofthe operator is removed, the spring 51 will return the parts to theposition shown by Fig. 6, theplate 59 returning with the plunger becausein the po sition shown by Fig. 7 the ball 81 is then in engagement withtherecess 85 in said plate. When the plate 59 in its outward movementfrom the position shown by Fig. 7 strikes the left hand wall of thecasing 47 the plate will stand stationary and the plng er will c0ntinu eits ,movement to canse the ball 81 again to engage the opening 83 Vlicnthe plunger moves to the left from the position shown by Fig. 7, as soonas the coin moves past the end of the detent 65 said coin will fall totne bottom of the cabinct and be caught in the coin receptacle 89.

As shown one of the bars 55 is slotted as indicated at 91 (Figs. 9 and10) in which slot is received a lever or dog 93 pivoted to the bar at95, while carried by the casing is a projection or stop 97"adapted tocontact with the right hand end of said lever, as viewed in Fig. 10,while the opposite end of the lever is adapted to contact with the coinC when the parts have been moved to the position indicated by Figs. 7and 10. Carried by the casing is a spring 99 the inner end 101 of whichis in sliding contact With the surface of the lever 93. When the partsare in the position shown by Figs. 4 and 6, that is to say the coinreceiving position of the mechanism, the spring 99 contacts withthe'lever 93 at the right hand side of the pvot 95, as viewed in Fig. 4,which will hold the coin contacting portion of said lever outof'position to contact with the coin, thereby permitting the coinreadily to move into the coin receiving slot 73. When the parts havebeen moved to the position shown by Figs. 10 and 7 the spring 99 willcontact with the lever 93 at the side of the pvot at which the coinlies, thereby moving the lever into'contact with the coin and providingthat if the coin is undersized the opposite end of said lever willcontact with the stop 97.

It will be observed that the detent 65 which engages the plate 59 andthe detent 93 which engages the stop 97 provide for engaging the coin ondiaxneters et right angles to each other, thereby preventing operationof the machine should an oval shaped slug be inserted,

For insuring the full stroke of: the plunger 45 after the lookingmeohanism is released, one of the bars 65 (Figs. 4 and 6) is provided.at its upper side with rack teeth 103 with which cooperates a pawl 105pivoted at 107 and having the spring 109 connected to afixed part of themachine for holding said pawl normally in a vertical position as shownby Figg. 6. When the plunger moves to. the

' ot the casing is amagnet 113 right, as viewed in Fgs. 6 and 7, thepawl will ride on the rack teeth and prevent return movement of the-plunger until the recess 111 formed in the bar to the left of the rackA teeth comes under the pawl, whereupon the pawl may be inclined in thedirection opposit-e that shown by Fig. 7, which Will permit return ofthe plunger.

As shown, positioned above the inner end the polos of which arepositioned opposite the slot 77. This will cause slugs of magneticmaterial to be drawn to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, and pass throughthe slots 75 in the bars and discharge through thefront of the machinethrough the slot l.l5. Ui1de1sized coins or slugs, which are inefieotiveto operate the looking mechanism, likewise will be discharged throughsaid slot 115 when the plunger is allowed to return after being inwardto cause the plate 59 to engage with the detent 65, or the detent 93 toerigage with thestop 97.

Although I have described for purposes of illustration one specificembodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I am not limitedthereby to its particular mechanical details, but that within the scopeof the invention wide deviations maybe made therertrom without departingfrom the spirit of the nvention.

Claims:

1. Coin controlled mechanism having a plurality ot' looks eachpermitting limited movement of said meohanism, and means for controllingthe open positions of said'locks in accordance with different diametersel the coin comprising a lock controlling -te eler for each lock movableradially of the coin, said teelcrs adapted to contact with the latter atditl'eront points on its pcriphery, and means rcsponsive to the limitedmovement of said mechanism permitted by said looks for causing unlockingof the latter when a coin of prcdetermined diameter is inserted.

2. Coin control ed mechanism having a plurality of looks each permittinglimited movement of said mechanism, and means for controlling the openpositions of said looks in accordance with diliercnt diameters of thecoin comprising a look controlling feeler for each lock movable radiallyof: the coin, said teolers adapted to contact with the letter atdittorent points on its periphery, and a coin receiving part adapted tomove the coin and fcelers into contact for actuation ot said looks uponsaid limited movement of said mechanism permitted by said looks.

3. Coin controlled mechanism having a pair of looks each of whichcomprises a pair of:

parts which are relatively movable radially ot the coin and contact withthe periphery of the latter substantially at oppsite ends respectivelyof diameters thereot, the coin diameter connecting the points of contactol one of said pairs of: parts being substantially at right angles tothe coin diameter connecting the points of contact of the other of saidpairs of parts.

4. Coin controlled mechanism having a pair of looks each of whichoomprises a pair o" par-ts which are relatively movable radially thecoin and contact with the periphery of the latter substantially atopposite ends respec tively ot diameters thereof, the coin diameterconnecting the points of contact of one of said pairs of parts beingsubstantially at right angles to the coin diameter connecting the pointsof contact ot the other of sai-d pairs of parts, and means torming acircular openlllgi0f substantially the diameter of the coin torpermitting the coin to be inserted into operativo position relative tosaid pairs of parts. v

5. Coin controlled mechanism having, in combination, a par-t the motionot which is to be controlled, a: plurality of looks for said part, eachlock comprising an abutment member and a relatively oooperating detentmember, said detont members being movable radially of the coin anddistributed tor respectively contacting the coin at difieren-t portionsof the periphery thereot,and means forming other abutments torcontacting the coin for causing the latter to con-trol the pos1t1onmg ofsaid detent members out of the path of said abutment members.

6. Coin controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element,looking means tor said element comprising a looking member and a partfor engaging the latter, saidmember and part being so constructed anddisposd to permit limited movement of said element with said member andpart out of contact, said part connectedto said element for relativemovement for permitting further 'limitedmovement of said element withsaid member and part in contact, means for contacting a coin for causingsuch further lim ited movement of Said element to effect disengagementof said part and member, and other looking means for said elementcomprising a controlling eeler tor engaging a difierent portion of thecoin from that portion thereof engaged by said means.

7. Coin controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable elementformed for reoeivin a coin, a coin retaining p art movable with saidelement and movablc relative there to into and out of coin retainingposition, spaced stop members tor engaging said part, said stop memberspermitting limited movement ofsaid element and part and moving said partinto and out of coin retaining position, the stop member which movessaid part out of coin retainirig position being movable into'and out ofengaging position with said part, meanscomprisinga-coincontactingabutment for e'ngaging theperiphery of a coin, said means responsive tothe limited moveserted coin. said second part being arranged forcontacting the periphery of the coin at substantially inety degrees fromthe portion nf said periphery engaged by said coin con tacting abutment.

8. Coin controlled apparatns having, in combination, a movable element,a member carried thereby for limited relative rmove ment, alockingmember for engaging said first mentioned member for permittinglimited movement of said element, said first mentioned member being soconstrncted and disposed as receive an inserted coin and by such limitedmovement transfer said coin to said locking member, means contacting theperiphery of said coin for actnating said looking member into unlockedposition, a second looking member and a cooperating abutment,and meanscontacting the perlphery of said coin at a different portion therc offrom that contacted by said means for controlling the disengaging of ingmember and abutment.

9. Coin controlled apparatns haviiig, in

combination, a movable element, a member carried thereby in slidingrelation thereto, a looking member cooperating with said first mentionedmember, said first mentioned member acting to receive an inserted coinand to discharge said coin upon actuation of said looking member,asecond looking member, and means for engaging said coin at difier entparts of its periphery for controlling the actuation of both lookingmembers,

10. Coin controlled apparatus having a movable element, a fixed partcarrying a stop, said movable element having a pivoted dog adapted atone end to contact with said coin and at its other end to contact withsaid stop, a spring carried by said fixed part, said spring being inyielding, sliding contact with said dog, said dog and stop memberpermitting limited movement of said element, said element having a coinreceiving position in which said spring contacts with said dog at theside of the pivotzthereof adjacent said stop whereby in said coinreceiving position said dog is ont of snbstantial contact with saidcoin, said element also having another position permitted by saidlimited movement in which said spring contacts with said dog at the sideof the pvot thereof adjacent said coin whereby in such position said dogcontacts with said coin.

11, Coin controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable elementprovided with a coin receiving portion, lockingmeans for said movableelement permitting limited contacting said second lock movement thereofwhen locked, said locking means having a coin contacting part car riedby said element at said coin receiving portion thereof, means forholding said coin part out of contact With the coin When said movableelement is at one extreme of its movement permitted by said lookingmeans, and causing said coin contacting part to move into contact withsaid'coin when said element is at the other extreme of said movement.

12. Coin controlled apparatus having, in

combination, a movable element having a coin receiving oortion, a lockfor said element comprising a lock controlli'ng feeler at said portionfor engagement with the coin, said lock permittinq limited movement ofsaid element, and means act uated by movement of said element forholding said feeler out of engagement with the coin when the movableelement is in.position to receive a coin and for causing said feeler tocontact with the coin When said element is moved from said position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES LEA.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,787,204. Granted December 30, 1930, to

CHARLES LEA.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the prnted specfcation ofthe above numbered petent requiring eorrection as foll0ws: Page 3, Ene63, claim 3 for the misspelled word "0ppsite" read opposite; same page,line 89, claim 5, strike out the word "relatively; page 4, line 45,claim 10, for the word "said" read the; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with these c0rrectiens therein that the same may conformto the rec0rd of the case in the Patent Office.

Sgned and sealed this 27th day of January, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

